Friday, August 28, 2009

As I mentioned in the previous post, Linda Davies asked me to do some test-tatting for her. Actually, I think I offered first, but anyhow, I have been working on tatting a couple of Linda's new flower patterns. These are, I believe, for a new book Linda is working on.

I started with Linda's very pretty Daffodil. Here are a couple of photos of the finished pieces. I have kept the images small to help protect Linda's pattern.

The top photo shows the individual parts of the flower. The second photo is, of course, the completed daffodil. I used some of the pearl cotton that my brother got for me. It worked very well, and the cream colour makes a very nice looking flower. I really like this pattern. Linda's methods for creating the different flower parts, and her construction methods (layering, usage of beads, etc) make for some realistic flowers. I liked the pattern so much, that I made a second flower:

This daffodil is made using a "modern" pearl cotton, ie: one that I bought a few months ago. The pattern is straight forward and many flowers could be made is a fairly short time. A whole bouquet would look awesome (I know what someone is getting for Mother's Day next year! Or for her birthday in a few months).

I am currently working on another of Linda's new patterns. I should be done tomorrow, and after I send her any errors or changes that I feel need to be corrected, or made (don't worry Linda, I haven't found anything major), I will post about it soon after. Well, that all for now, I'll leave you with a photo of the two daffodils together. Until next time.

Friday, August 21, 2009

Well, I'm back from my short break. It was great, and was something I really needed. There's nothing like spending a long weekend in the country to refresh ones mind and body. But I should keep moving-this is a tatting post. I know, shocking, isn't it?

I did manage to do some tatting while away. Oddly enough, I ended up tatting snowflakes. The first snowflake is from Mary Konior's book, Tatting with Visual Patterns. This is, in my opinion, a must have book for all tatters, but I recommend you buy it from one of the tatting suppliers out there. You'll get it much cheaper than some of the online book stores (not naming names here!).

This is Ring A Ring 'O Roses Snowflake. I've never used Onion Rings in a pattern before (I'm not sure these are true Onion Rings, but they look like it, which is all I care about). The snowflake is quite pretty, though it did seem to take a while to tat. I used DMC Cordonnet size 30 thread to make this snowflake. It meaures about 3 1/2 inches tip to tip. This will be #24 of my second 25 Motif Challenge.

The next snowflake is one that you've all seen before. It comes from the creative mind of Jon Yusoff.

This is Magic Moments. I love this snowflake. I found the snowflake tatted up quite quickly (much faster than the previous snowflake). For this snowflake I used Lizbeth size 20 thread in colour # 116 Christmas Delight. In this thread size the snowflake is pretty large. It measures slightly over 4 1/2 inches across. I will be making this snowflake again. Thanks Jon! This will motif # 25 of my second 25 Motif Challenge. Oh man! I finished the challenge. I haven't finished all the UFOs that I wanted. I guess I'll have to do the challenge again!

Well that's all for now. I'm going to start some test tatting tonight for Linda Davies, so you should be hearing from me soon. Later.

Saturday, August 15, 2009

OK. Maybe not (it's a scheduled post), but like the title says, I am away right now. I decided to get away for a couple three days. And, as luck would have it, my supervisor approved my request for time off. I am going to run down to my parents house for these days ( I left Friday after work, and will be back home late Monday). Of course, my parents aren't here; they decided to take a week long trip traveling through Alberta and British Columbia (funny how I scheduled the wrong weekend off). But my brother is home, and there is a Heritage festival going on today (though will see if I go).

I'm hoping to get a lot of tatting done this weekend, but I'm not sure that will happen. I've brought a supply of threads, books, and shuttles, so hopefully they will combine into tatted lace. I am not taking my chainmaille stuff with me; its much too heavy to travel with. I will work on that when I get back. I started working on a chainmaille dragon that I am dying to show you.

Well that's it for now. If all goes well, I'll have some pictures to show, and a refreshed mind and body. Even if I don't get what I want done, or see people I want to see, I can take comfort in knowing, that I wasn't at work. Later.

PS: My Etsy shop will remain open all weekend. And I'll have some additional colours of Anodized Aluminum available.

I am currently using my regular Etsy account. I may recreate the store using a new username if I feel it is necessary. I probably won't provide many updates about the store here, since this blog was created for tatting. I've had a lot of non-tatting posts lately.

Now for the tatting. Right after my last post, I tried out that Daisy thread I posted about. I decided to try an edging pattern from the vintage tatting book that I also blogged about earlier.

If you're wondering, this is edging No. 9075. As both Sharon and Ladytats said in the comments, the thread comes in a skein that is doubled onto itself several times. So I'll have to wind it onto something before it gets all tangled up. The thread is alright to tat with. It appears to be a 3-cord thread, and it is a bit fuzzy. As you can see in the above photo, my tension was terrible. I was afraid of snapping the thread. I didn't, but the thought stayed with me till I ran out of my "ball" thread. I wound a shuttle with the thread and simply pulled off a metre or so of thread and used it as my ball thread.

That's all for now. I really need to get back to some serious tatting. I haven't touched the Spinning Wheel doily for several weeks now. I also want to rewrite the above edging pattern in modern notation. I kept loosing my place. Till next time.